Sociologists would have a ball with this 1952 anthology film describing the different facets of American life- it's various forms of culture whether they be religious, social, political, etc.
The anthology is made up of 8 straight stories,vignettes, if you don't know and has quite an array of movie talent in the film which is narrated by Louis Calhern.
Even Nancy Davis shows up as a prim and proper schoolteacher who runs into conflict with a student's father when she tells him to have his son's eyes checked for glasses.
Gary Cooper salutes Texas and there is an effective display of contributions of African Americans. Ethel Barrymore is upset in her story that she wasn't counted in the census and S.Z. Sakall portrays a bigot against Greeks whose daughter, Janet Leigh, quickly weds Greek Gene Kelly.
The problem with the film is that each segment only lasts for about 20 minutes or so and therefore there is little time for character development. Marjorie Main steals her vignette as the mother of a dead Korean War soldier who gets a visit from Keith Brasselle, a fellow serviceman, who reads a letter that his friend sent just before his death. This was poignant, but too brief as well.
The film depicts various forms of Americana.
The anthology is made up of 8 straight stories,vignettes, if you don't know and has quite an array of movie talent in the film which is narrated by Louis Calhern.
Even Nancy Davis shows up as a prim and proper schoolteacher who runs into conflict with a student's father when she tells him to have his son's eyes checked for glasses.
Gary Cooper salutes Texas and there is an effective display of contributions of African Americans. Ethel Barrymore is upset in her story that she wasn't counted in the census and S.Z. Sakall portrays a bigot against Greeks whose daughter, Janet Leigh, quickly weds Greek Gene Kelly.
The problem with the film is that each segment only lasts for about 20 minutes or so and therefore there is little time for character development. Marjorie Main steals her vignette as the mother of a dead Korean War soldier who gets a visit from Keith Brasselle, a fellow serviceman, who reads a letter that his friend sent just before his death. This was poignant, but too brief as well.
The film depicts various forms of Americana.